Hailey Carleton (right), age 2, eats lunch during a baptism party for another child at Le Zinc, a Noe Valley bistro located at 4063 24th St. in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

Hailey Carleton (right), age 2, eats lunch during a baptism party for another child at Le Zinc, a Noe Valley bistro located at 4063 24th St. in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle

Image 2 of 14

At Cradle of the Sun, located at 3848 24th St., shoppers can find a wide assortment of glass pieces for sale in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

At Cradle of the Sun, located at 3848 24th St., shoppers can find a wide assortment of glass pieces for sale in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle

Image 3 of 14

Barista Ohla Coleman shares a laugh with her co-workers while working at Bernies, a coffee shop located at 3966 24th St. in Noe Valley, in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

Barista Ohla Coleman shares a laugh with her co-workers while working at Bernies, a coffee shop located at 3966 24th St. in Noe Valley, in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle

Image 4 of 14

The street sign at the intersection of 24th St. and Noe in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

The street sign at the intersection of 24th St. and Noe in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle

Image 5 of 14

Image 6 of 14

Sharon Franzen enjoys a coffee while sitting by the window at Bernie's, a Noe Valley coffee shop located at 3966 24th St., in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

Sharon Franzen enjoys a coffee while sitting by the window at Bernie's, a Noe Valley coffee shop located at 3966 24th St., in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle

Image 7 of 14

Dee's mini organic doughnuts can be found at Bernie's, a Noe Valley coffee shop located at 3966 24th St. in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

Dee's mini organic doughnuts can be found at Bernie's, a Noe Valley coffee shop located at 3966 24th St. in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle

Image 8 of 14

Dmitri Cavander and his dog Lucy relax on 24th Street outside Bernie's, a Noe Valley coffee shop, in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

Dmitri Cavander and his dog Lucy relax on 24th Street outside Bernie's, a Noe Valley coffee shop, in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle

Image 9 of 14

Deanna Driscoll stepped away from the table for a moment to cradle her grandson Boden Mason during a baptism party for Boden at Le Zinc, a Noe Valley bistro located at 4063 24th St. in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009. less

Deanna Driscoll stepped away from the table for a moment to cradle her grandson Boden Mason during a baptism party for Boden at Le Zinc, a Noe Valley bistro located at 4063 24th St. in San Francisco, Calif., on ... more

Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle

Image 10 of 14

Image 11 of 14

Mary, a bartender at The Dubliner, located at 3838 24th St. in San Francisco, Calif., relaxes at the bar on Thursday, February 26, 2009. Mary is also a resident of Noe Valley where she has lived for 15 years.

Mary, a bartender at The Dubliner, located at 3838 24th St. in San Francisco, Calif., relaxes at the bar on Thursday, February 26, 2009. Mary is also a resident of Noe Valley where she has lived for 15 years.

Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle

Image 12 of 14

Judy Newman relaxes at The Dubliner, a Noe Valley Irish bar located at 3838 24th St. in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009. Newman, a Noe Valley resident for 27 years said, "It's the best neighborhood in the city. I grew up in a small town and being here is like being in a small town." less

Judy Newman relaxes at The Dubliner, a Noe Valley Irish bar located at 3838 24th St. in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009. Newman, a Noe Valley resident for 27 years said, "It's the best ... more

Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle

Image 13 of 14

At Cradle of the Sun, located at 3848 24th St., shoppers can find a wide assortment of glass pieces for sale in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

At Cradle of the Sun, located at 3848 24th St., shoppers can find a wide assortment of glass pieces for sale in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle

Image 14 of 14

24th Street, San Francisco

1 / 14

Back to Gallery

24th Street, San Francisco Flanked by Twin Peaks and the Mission District, Noe Valley feels like a homey village, with its thoughtfully restored Italianate and Queen Anne Victorians fronted by lush fenced gardens, contemporary apartment buildings, and stylish, individual shops, cafes and boutiques on tree-lined 24th Street. Sunny and friendly, it's where residents take their dogs for a stroll. It's also the kind of place that treats you like one of the neighbors, even if you don't live here.

1. San Francisco Mystery Bookstore

4175 24th St.: Mystery buffs shouldn't miss this independent specialty bookstore. Open for 30 years and housed in a quirky space in a residential area, it sells new and used mystery books, including recent releases and vintage novels. Stop by when you have time to peruse its selection and seek recommendations from its knowledgeable, well-read staff. From works by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to Dashiell Hammett to Charles Willeford to Jim Thompson and more, you'll most likely find them here. (415) 282-7444.

2. Chocolate Covered

4069 24th St.: Chocolate with bacon? Yes, made with smoked applewood bacon, alderwood smoked salt and milk chocolate, Vosges' Mo's Bacon Bar is one of the more unusual flavor combinations found in this spot dedicated to chocolate. Chocoholics may find themselves overwhelmed by the multitude of choices in the narrow, oblong space of this petite shop. You'll find shelves of neatly stacked chocolate bars and bags of chocolate from around the world. (415) 641-8123.

3. Le Zinc

4063 24th St.: Votives top rows of small tables, casting an amber glow in this Parisian-style bistro. Whether you want to savor a glass of wine or classic French comfort food, such as onion soup, escargots, croque-monsieur, steak and pomme frites or salad Nicoise, the unhurried pace here welcomes it. Open for brunch, lunch, tapas and dinner, this bistro also offers two prix fixe dinner menus - a set three-course menu for $36 per person and a four-course menu with a variety of choices for $40 per person. If the weather's fair, dine in the magical garden in back. (415) 647-9400. www.lezinc.com.

4. Bernie's

3966 24th St.: Pop into this neighborhood cafe with its quality coffee, affable baristas, sweet treats and relaxing vibe. Since there's free Wi-Fi for customers, bring your laptop and settle in at a table near the window. Or enjoy the bench out front if it's pleasant. (415) 642-1192.

6. The Dubliner

3838 24th St.: This Irish-style pub looks and feels like the kind you'll find in Ireland, complete with the down-home friendliness. Inside the cozy space, there's a full bar that serves up domestic and imported beer on tap such as Harp, and of course, Guinness. Flat-screen televisions broadcast sports and booths make handy gathering spots for groups. Munch on pub grub including fish and chips, along with calamari, salads, pastas and pizza. Smokers will appreciate the separate smoking room with its large, open window facing the street. (415) 826-2279. www.dubliner barsf.com.

Parking

Getting there

Public transit: The outbound, 48 Quintara Muni bus serves 24th Street. The J Church outbound street car leaves from several Muni stations in San Francisco and stops at Church and 24th streets. (415) 701-2311. www.sfmta.com. By car: From 101 North, take the Duboce Avenue/Golden Gate Bridge/Mission Street exit onto Duboce Avenue. Turn left on Market Street, turn left on Castro Street and turn left on 24th Street.

Good to know

Learn the craft of making stained-glass artwork through a six-week course taught by Dan Gamaldi. Classes are 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays or 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays. $200 per person plus supply costs of approximately $50 to $80. All tools are provided and students receive a 10 percent discount on supplies from Cradle of the Sun.